The war in Iran and tensions in the global oil market are starting to be felt directly in passengers’ pockets. The cost of long-distance flights from Europe is increasing by over $100 per passenger on average.
According to an analysis conducted by the Transport & Environment (T&E) organization and cited by Reuters, the rise in jet fuel prices has added approximately 88 euros (about $104) to the average cost per passenger for long-haul flights departing from Europe and 29 euros for intra-European routes.
The calculation compares prices from April 16 with those before the outbreak of the conflict on February 28.
The differences are also evident in concrete examples: a ticket from Barcelona to Berlin now involves an additional cost of around 26 euros per passenger, while a flight from Paris to New York becomes about 129 euros more expensive.
The Airline Industry Prepares for a Challenging Season
European airlines are entering a complicated period. There are fears that potential fuel supply issues could even lead to flight cancellations.
In this context, the European Union is set to present guidelines for managing a possible aviation fuel shortage.
Since March, representatives of major airlines such as Lufthansa, Ryanair, or Air France-KLM have been warning that the increase in fuel costs will inevitably be reflected in ticket prices if tensions persist.
Criticism Towards the Industry
The T&E analysis highlights that the impact of rising oil prices is much greater than the costs generated by the European Union's environmental policies, which are frequently criticized by airlines.
"The Middle East crisis demonstrates that our real vulnerability is a reservoir filled with foreign oil and not legislation," said Diane Vitry, aviation director at T&E.
Dispute Over Green Fuels Persists
Airline operators are calling for the relaxation of certain European rules, including postponing the deadline for mandatory use of synthetic fuels (eSAF) by 2030, citing a lack of production capacity.
In turn, the European Union argues that investments in sustainable aviation fuels are precisely the solution to reduce dependence on oil and enhance long-term energy security.